Author Topic: Really Dim Headlights (Read 6959 times)

lilbuddy · « **on:** Feb 19, 2005, 08:33:01 PM »

I have an 81 toyota and I just recently put in some brand new Sylvania Halogen lightbulbs. When I put them in they were very bright. Tonight when I went driving it around, and also the past few weeks at night, as Id be driving, the lights are so bright, I cant even see them. I can turn on my rocklights and it puts off more light then my headlights do. I dont know what it is, they are aimed right but I can not see them. I can kind of see them when they are on high beams but I dont know what it is. They used to be really bright and now they arent. Is there anything I can do?

dirtbag · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 19, 2005, 08:45:49 PM »

check your alternator amps, & the gauge, see if it has too much running ( big stereos, etc. )

Is it hard to start?

lilbuddy · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 19, 2005, 08:47:42 PM »

Gauge is reading normal. My stereo isnt that big (450 watt amp) but I will try pulling the fuse for my amp so it doesnt draw any power and see what happens.

Not hard to start.

dirtbag · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 19, 2005, 08:51:48 PM »

check the fuses, then, if nothing is wrong, test the alternator and the battery at Kragen, to see what's going on. Mine did that 2 weeks ago on the T-Bird, battery was fine, since it was new, but alternator went out. Headlights were REALLY low. Also, check the regulator (

) a friend had what was believed to be a batt prob, I put mine in, ran down, so I assumed alt, they got alt, regulator. Hope that helps.

lilbuddy · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 19, 2005, 09:02:08 PM »

Thanks. I will just look over things tomorrow and see if I can see anything. Alternator is only a year old and its supposed to have a lifetime warranty on it

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 19, 2005, 11:55:51 PM »

sounds like alternator. Spotters car did that right before christmas. Drivnig along and the headlights were dimming, along with the dash lights. Have yu noticed any of that?

BigMike · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 12:04:49 AM »

Checking the grounds for the headlights wouldnt hurt.

UNBREAKABLE · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 07:19:52 AM »

I'm gonig with big mike on the grounds also you may have a broke wire in there somewhere

lilbuddy · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 21, 2005, 12:45:16 PM »

Well, I looked at the ground off the battery onto the body and it was a really crappy ground. The moron that owned the truck before me put the ground on the body but where there was a bunch of paint and it wasnt a very good one. So i got some sandpaper, sanded down the paint to bare metal right there and put the ground back. Waited till night time turned on the lights and the lights were brighter but not as bright as they used to be. I might go get my alternator tested and see what it is at.

toyman2 · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 21, 2005, 05:59:28 PM »

check the headlight fuses there should be 2 (upper right hand corner of the block)
feel if there geting hot at all if so scrape terminals or try to spin the fuse in the fuse block and see if that makes a differncei had a big problem with resistance there so i ran my head lights threw relays

BigMike · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 21, 2005, 06:25:41 PM »

Just make sure that your system is charging at around 14 volts when the engines on. If so then its not the alternator.

lilbuddy · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 21, 2005, 10:41:35 PM »

I checked the fueses...changed them out with new ones and they still arent the brighetst..

The Voltmeter always reads around 14 even with my stereo, rocklights, headlights, KC Lights on....

Snowtoy · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 22, 2005, 12:54:52 AM »

It may not be the lights or electrical system at all but a problem caused by the road conditions. When you first installed the new lights and went driving, was the pavement wet or dry?

FATB0Y · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 22, 2005, 01:16:54 AM »

Take of your shades 8)

guywithuglyyota · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 22, 2005, 01:59:12 AM »

My truck did this forever! The lights were bright one week, and the next...dim. Turned out to be the alternator. If it is the alt I DO NOT recommend napa reman units. I went through four! before I got a good one. I ended up throwing in a gm, and that sucker puts out 145 amps at idle! Wooo hoooo my headlights are screamin

SWAMPER · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 22, 2005, 03:30:42 AM »

I kinda have the same prob I have the Silverstar bulbs on mine the drivers side is brighter than the passenger side headlight...it wasent this way till like a week ago...havent checked my ground...will do that

lilbuddy · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 22, 2005, 03:15:02 PM »

Quote from: Snowtoy on Feb 22, 2005, 12:54:52 AM

It may not be the lights or electrical system at all but a problem caused by the road conditions. When you first installed the new lights and went driving, was the pavement wet or dry?

It was wet when I really started to notice but I tried it last night when it was pretty dry and they still werent like when I got the truck.

Snowtoy · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 12:33:29 AM »

Do you still have the boxes and reciept for the lights, take them back and exchange them for another set.

Yota4life · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 01:10:48 AM »

Quote from: SWAMPER on Feb 22, 2005, 03:30:42 AM

I kinda have the same prob I have the Silverstar bulbs on mine the drivers side is brighter than the passenger side headlight...it wasent this way till like a week ago...havent checked my ground...will do that

Thats funny i have the exact same problem.....Hmmmm....

FATB0Y · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 02:23:14 AM »

Quote from: Snowtoy on Feb 23, 2005, 12:33:29 AM

Do you still have the boxes and reciept for the lights, take them back and exchange them for another set.

Thats kinda what I was thinking

bad lamps

Salvo · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 09:11:28 AM »

I have dim lights as well but im going to be making a new wire harnes for the lights and get rid of the crappy under sized and too long toyota light harness... easy to build by the looks of it and should only cost at most 30 in supplies... might spend the extra money and go to the sterio shop and get wire for car audio instalation.. High strand count worth the extra money...

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Headlights.shtml#OnLineOrdering

lilbuddy · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 05:44:57 PM »

So I get in my truck last night, turn on the lights and sure enough they are dim. I got really pissed at something and at the same time I got pissed I hit my elbow really hard on my center console/sub box and of course I had to take out some energy. So I kicked the steering column really hard and the lights got brigher. I think I have a loose ground somewhere but they are somewhat bright. Id say BigMike you are correct on the grounds. Ill go through everything and check er out.

Snowtoy, I dont have the box or anything. They work good now. I think half the reason is the conditions that I was driving in though. They are alot different now. Thanks for the info Salvo! I will probably look into that harness. Id say all in all it was a mix of bad grounds and driving conditions but they are all better now. Thanks alot everyone

You guys are a big help

lilbuddy · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 23, 2005, 10:35:56 PM »

I was takin a look at it tonight and I was also thinking, since my truck sits so freakin high (3inch body 5inch suspension) that it doesnt always help. The lights are aimed but I dont think that helps with it being bright.

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